What do you think is the best way to tackle someone whose personal hygiene at work is constantly terrible? What do you do when it's been raised repeatedly to their manager by loads of people, with no discernible improvement? My personal stance on this is pretty straightforward - if you turn up to work smelly and unkempt, you get sent home to come back when you've sorted yourself out. Do it repeatedly despite warnings, it becomes a disciplinary matter.

In my opinion, if your odour is seriously unpleasant for colleagues to be around, and causes an embarrassment to the business when you deal with customers, both of those are completely unacceptable.

Obviously the first stage has to be a quiet word to raise the issue and try to find out why it's happening. Beyond that, I think it has to go as described above,

I take it this is actually happening in your workplace? Anyway, I do think that the proper initial step is to speak with the person's direct supervisor and have them quietly deal with the situation. It's a tough conversation to have with anybody, but being a manager isn't always going to be easy. If the issue continues, then it should become a disciplinary matter. The person should only have to be sent home once to clean up for them to realize that they need to be better aware of their hygiene.

Once there have been multiple complaints with management seemingly ignoring the issue, then it should go up the chain of command. Notify the manager's higher up and let them know that nothing is being done about the situation, and that it has not improved.

Other than that, I don't know what else can be done. Anyone dealing with customers on a regular basis should have acceptable hygiene. I wonder if customers have complained. Perhaps if more of them complained something would be done about the situation.

This is a touchy situation. Not knowing what organization nor the positions in that organization that are involved, I can only give some broad advice.

In a non-union environment, the person's direct supervisor and an HR representative (of equal rank to the supervisor) should have a sit down with the employee and review company policy on the matter. In the absence of company policy, HR should develop some, implement them and then, after a suitable period, sit with the employee. And yes, the disciplinary process should be followed.

But first, let's look at it a little closer and ask the most important question here:

Why?

Is it a medical problem? Is it a substance abuse issue? Is the guy just a slob?

It is necessary for the organization to tread carefully.

Have any of his friends or peers approached him? Sometimes the direct approach, by a peer, is better than going through management.

Quoting OA412 (Reply 2):I take it this is actually happening in your workplace? Anyway, I do think that the proper initial step is to speak with the person's direct supervisor and have them quietly deal with the situation. It's a tough conversation to have with anybody, but being a manager isn't always going to be easy

Yeah. And it's not the first time I've encountered this in a work situation.

Quoting OA412 (Reply 2): If the issue continues, then it should become a disciplinary matter. The person should only have to be sent home once to clean up for them to realize that they need to be better aware of their hygiene.

I agree.

Quoting fr8mech (Reply 3):Is it a medical problem? Is it a substance abuse issue? Is the guy just a slob?

I don't think any of those apply except possibly the last one.

Quoting fr8mech (Reply 3):Have any of his friends or peers approached him? Sometimes the direct approach, by a peer, is better than going through management.

The problem with a constantly smelly and unhygienic employee is that they tend not to have many, if any, suitable friends at work.

I have zero tolerance for bad odors. Poor hygiene and cigarette smells I absolutely hate and will not tolerate at work. Only had this issue twice. Both were smokers.
Had them move their sets to another office. It was easy to do because there were several others that agreed that their foul stench due to their bad habit was a distraction to the workplace.

Speaking as an ex-smoker (only had the habit for two short spells in my life), I can totally get that cigarette odour is nasty. I'm very sensitive to it too. However, I would definitely rather be around a clean smoker than someone who stinks of clearly very stale body odour, and who hasn't washed in a very long time.

To be blunt RJ, their is no easy way to tell somebody they stink, you just have to be measured in your approach. And its a task most people pass on to others if they can. I have had this unpleasant task twice in a managerial role , but unlike your situation (unless I'm reading your post wrong) neither of my guys were customer facing. I am surprised that your management is taking such disinterest in a 'front of house' employee. Without knowing if your company has a staff handbook or the wording of your employment contract, this is obviously a management issue and most companies that deal face to face with customers usually have standards of appearance which hygiene generally falls under.

Has anybody of his peer group raised this with him? Sometimes the fact of knowing people think you pong is enough of a jolt to change behaviour.

Has management, to your knowledge, actually spoken to him about it following the numerous complaints? Like I said above, if my employee was customer facing, I would have to deal with this today rather than later.

Quoting TristarAtLCA (Reply 7):Has anybody of his peer group raised this with him? Sometimes the fact of knowing people think you pong is enough of a jolt to change behaviour.

It's hard to believe that the person doesn't see people recoil and move away on a regular basis. As mentioned above though, they don't really seem to have anyone at work who is close enough to raise the issue in anything other than the most insensitive ways. It's definitely for management to deal with.

Quoting TristarAtLCA (Reply 7):Has management, to your knowledge, actually spoken to him about it following the numerous complaints?

No, managers just seem to bottle it all the time and chicken out. I'm a manager too, but not directly of this individual. The problem is that my lot complain about it, and I'd like to approach the relevant manager to deal with it properly. The thing there is that it's always best to be able to come up with suggestions for how they might deal with it, rather than just tell them they need to do something about it. I'm lucky enough not to have had to deal with that myself, and wouldn't relish the prospect of such a conversation. I'd like to think that I would indeed have the guts to do it if I had to.

Quoting RussianJet (Reply 8):The thing there is that it's always best to be able to come up with suggestions for how they might deal with it, rather than just tell them they need to do something about it.

Like I said, pull HR into the loop. They may already have a plan in place for this type of situation.

I, also have dealt with this at the manager level. Twice. Both times, there were other factors involved. Both were a general deterioration of basic hygiene due to alcoholism. We had no clue, but some direct questioning by HR (I let our HR manager take the lead) and the management group finally got both these guys the help they needed. Both are still employed with us...in safety sensitive positions.

The organization needs to tackle this problem, but tread very carefully.

And, if he's just a freaking slob, some direct attention may get you some results.

Had this problem with a co worker once. We suspected that he was too lazy to bathe. I brought the subject up to my manager who told me "It's not my problem, you just tell him to take a bath and that'll take care of it." So it does seem companies are rather reluctant to deal with this type of problem.

Quoting fr8mech (Reply 9):Like I said, pull HR into the loop. They may already have a plan in place for this type of situation.

It's not that simple - much of our HR functions are devolved to managers, me being one of them. Unfortunately, one of the side effects of that is that we are not experts in HR matters. Of course we can take advice if need be, which I might well suggest amongst other things. But ultimately the action has to come from the manager concerned.

Quoting fr8mech (Reply 9):And, if he's just a freaking slob, some direct attention may get you some results.

It's a female, with unwashed hair, severe 'femenine' odour, general severe body odour and a failure to wash clothes. It's hard to see any obvious causes. I certainly don't get the impression that drug or alcohol abuse is likely. I am guessing that it's either deeply-engrained slobbishness, or some kind of severe problem at home, a la domestic violence or whatever. There's no obvious signs though, and we are trained to an extent in detecting such issues. Much of the real problem here is a succession of failures to address the situation properly.

Boy does this bring back memories. I remember very clearly the day I got sent home from work because I stunk.... It was one of those big learning moments and was part of my continuing lessons about work and the responsibility that goes along with the "honor" of working.

It was my second job and I was a cashier (my first job was as a dishwasher) at a large chain store. It was something like my third or fourth day on the job. I would ride my bike the 3 miles to work and did not regularly shower..... I was a stinky young teenager. I would do whatever it was I was doing all day, playing, biking, whatever, and then ride to work.

Well I got to work went to get ready and before I could get to the floor my boss pulled me aside and told me to go home and not come back until I was clean and presentable and ready to work (deodorant, which is what I would normally use to "clean up" with, would not work). While it was a relatively private conversation, away from others, I still had to leave after just arriving and that alone gets people asking about it. And they did when I got back to work about an hour later (mom was nice too and drove me too). It was embarrassing but it was a good fast, hard lesson for me. I immediately began showering every day and would clean up before going to work if I had had a strenuous day up to that point, I still rode to work though and if I got little sweaty on the way in I would detour to the bathroom and clean up again.

It was an important life lesson. Somehow everyone must learn this lesson in order to just have success in life.

Tugg

I don’t know that I am unafraid to be myself, but it is hard to be somebody else. -W. Shatner

Quoting tugger (Reply 12):It was an important life lesson. Somehow everyone must learn this lesson in order to just have success in life.

I agree. Part of the problem here though is the fact that this person is not young and has been working for a long time. The time has long passed for 'nipping it in the bud'. It will be a shock, no question.

Quoting RussianJet (Reply 8):It's hard to believe that the person doesn't see people recoil and move away on a regular basis.

I understand your point but if they have had such poor hygiene for a long time she simply wouldn't realise how bad they pong. They wouldn't smell it. Its a bit like smokers (and like you I'm an ex-smoker) who never understand when people tell them their habit stinks, as does their clothes, breath etc until they stop and realise how awful it truly does smell. They might just think people are being rude and unfriendly.

Quoting RussianJet (Reply 8):As mentioned above though, they don't really seem to have anyone at work who is close enough to raise the issue in anything other than the most insensitive ways.

I accept its an awkward situation, but it can certainly be discussed in a private setting without making the individual feel belittled and humiliated. I asked the initial question because in one of my chats the guy swore blind he bathed regularly, used deodorant daily and couldn't understand why people would think he stunk. I'm sure he felt a touch of embarrassment and things did change almost instantly. As the problem went away, I never pursued what he changed. It just changed.

Quoting fr8mech (Reply 9):Both were a general deterioration of basic hygiene due to alcoholism.

This was the basis of my other situation. The guy was going through what sounded like a viciously bitter divorce and drank himself almost to oblivion. Thankfully, he pulled himself together with a little help from the company and was still employed when I left.

We have a young trainee at our place of work and he stinks to high heaven. So much that around half the workforce can smell him. One poor woman who sits right next to him brought in an air freshener this morning and I nearly ended up in hospital after nearly suffering an anaphylactic shock. Luckily, the freshener was removed sharply and I recovered and the guy rang in sick today. The 2 managers have spoken to him and so has his life skills coach. Sometimes he isn't too bad but he constantly wears a padded gilet even in this mad hot summer old Blighty is having.

Quoting RussianJet (Thread starter):In my opinion, if your odour is seriously unpleasant for colleagues to be around, and causes an embarrassment to the business when you deal with customers, both of those are completely unacceptable.

Maybe your stinky coworkers came across this article and are trying to be trendsetters!...

We had a new employee with unpleasant body odor in my previous workplace, everyone tried to make him aware of his problem indirectly, unfortunately our new colleague couldn't read between the lines and did nothing to fix the problem, so we complained to the manager, who had a talk with him. The guy was embarrassed and promised to shower and use deodorant every work day.

I was in that situation once when a clerk could warp the walls some days.

My approach was to talk to a lady in HR who was a similar age and who understood the problem and how to solve it.

Late that day the clerk was called in for a private discussion and returned to the office just before quitting time. No one else in the department knew about the situation in order to avoid embarrassment.

The next day (and every day thereafter) this lass showed up at work fresh as can be. The ironic thing was that she was really attractive and as soon as she understood the situation she started attracting boyfriends.

We have it included in the employee code of conduct that any employee causing any offense to co-workers through lack of personal hygiene, strong perfume / cologne etc, smelly food and so on will be sent home and repeat offenders will be subject to discipline. This is along with all the usual stuff about respecting co-workers rights, beliefs and so on.

I would talk to HR and if this is not in the code of conduct add it, then call a staff meeting for the whole company (or by department if its huge) and inform everybody and remind everybody of the general terms of the conditions so you are not obviously picking on one individual. If that person has half a brain, they will wake up and change. If not, then their manager - with the support of HR - addresses the individual directly. If they they actively oppose the code of conduct, there is grounds for dismissal.

He must have a lousy coach.
I'm more shocked that the company acknowledge his 'life skills coach' as a legitimate person to discuss this matter.

Quoting tugger (Reply 19):What the heck is a "life skills" coach? Sounds like something wealthy and ignorant stars have (or needs, like Bieber or Amanda Byrnes and Mel Gibson etc.)

That sums it up but there are a lot of loonies out there that are not famous that consider themselves 'life coaches'.
I was running in to a lot back in San Francisco. I would often have to hold in my laugh when they tell me their profession.

Quoting tugger (Reply 12):Boy does this bring back memories. I remember very clearly the day I got sent home from work because I stunk.... It was one of those big learning moments and was part of my continuing lessons about work and the responsibility that goes along with the "honor" of working.

It was my second job and I was a cashier (my first job was as a dishwasher) at a large chain store. It was something like my third or fourth day on the job. I would ride my bike the 3 miles to work and did not regularly shower..... I was a stinky young teenager. I would do whatever it was I was doing all day, playing, biking, whatever, and then ride to work.

Well I got to work went to get ready and before I could get to the floor my boss pulled me aside and told me to go home and not come back until I was clean and presentable and ready to work (deodorant, which is what I would normally use to "clean up" with, would not work). While it was a relatively private conversation, away from others, I still had to leave after just arriving and that alone gets people asking about it. And they did when I got back to work about an hour later (mom was nice too and drove me too). It was embarrassing but it was a good fast, hard lesson for me. I immediately began showering every day and would clean up before going to work if I had had a strenuous day up to that point, I still rode to work though and if I got little sweaty on the way in I would detour to the bathroom and clean up again.

It was an important life lesson. Somehow everyone must learn this lesson in order to just have success in life.

Great story, Tugg! Thanks for sharing. I must admit I am also guilty of one hygiene warning. I am a language teacher and on my first visit to one company where I taught, I got real sweaty before I came because it was a hot day and I had to spend a long time looking for the office and rushing around so as not to be late. A few days later in the school office, I was called aside and a course manager, a very nice person, said to me "I don't know how to tell you this but a student has complained that you have body odor". I had been aware of the problem myself and let's just say I took precautions so that this would not repeat itself.

As for how to deal with it, I think the others have said it all. In my incident, the lady who spoke to me was direct but polite, and because my offense was an exceptional one and I myself was aware of the problem and ready to fix it, it did not repeat itself. That being said, from time to time you run into some people who display an amazing lack of appreciation for personal hygiene. One of my best friends told me of a guy he knew when he was doing his compulsory military service in Czechoslovakia circa 1979. There was another recruit who basically never washed. He was given the military speciality of kitchen assistant, as he was apparently too feeble-minded to do any more advanced trade, and seemed to think washing dishes gave him all the exposure to water that he needed. My friend says that this guy stank terribly, had matted hair and didn't need to clip his nails, as he chewed them off. He cleaned the dirt between his toes with a stick and although they were issued rations of toilet paper, he liked to cut newspapers into strips and use that instead. Eventually, the other lads got tired of having such a person in barracks, so they took it upon themselves to take physical custody of him, tie him to a bedframe, and give him a bath. They stripped him down and went at him with a hose and a brush. As for certain nether regions, they told him that either he would wash those himself or they would do it for him. Obviously you can't do this in a company, though.

Years ago, I had a coworker who was grievously, morbidly obese, and who practiced very poor personal hygiene habits. Honestly, I believe she found it very difficult to bathe properly as a result of her extreme size, coupled with her very poor physical condition.

Her work was exemplary, her attitude, beyond reproach; she was and is a delightful soul, but as a result of her hygiene practices (presumably, derivative of her extreme size, although this is mere speculation), her foul odor made it impossible for others to work in the same room with her.

Although she made the token moves directed at improving her physical condition and its effects on those around her, ultimately, she chose to begin working from home, something which also allowed her to pay more attention to caring for her elderly mother (upon further reflection, her overwhelming personal workload could not have helped in her struggle with personal care).

Through all this, no one could have, in good conscience, called her "lazy," as I observe so often done in reference to people of unusually -- large size.

If the problem persists,one could always try to solve it the hard way :

A South african colleague, who served in the South african Army back in the 1980s told me about one soldier they had in their platoon (during basic training), who wouldn´t wash or change his clothes. Since all of them were living in a big dorm room, he affected everybody in the platoon.
So, when he still didn´t wash after having been toldso by the other soldiers repeatetively, one evening a bunch of them grabbed him and dragged him to the shower room. There they stripped him and scrubbed him down, using the hard bristle brushes used for scrubbing the floor, together with the strong, corrosive lye soap. They also used ice cold water on him from a fire hose and ehen he resisted, he got some punches for his efforts. In the end his skin was bleeding and raw.
He got told that if he wouldn´t improve his personal hygiene habits, he would get this treatment again.
the unit´s commanders decided to turn a blind eye.

Note: Don´t try this at home and beware of possible legal consequences!

Quoting tugger (Reply 12):It was an important life lesson. Somehow everyone must learn this lesson in order to just have success in life.

Glad it was handled professionally and you learned from that experience. Will probably help you in the future on how to handle other experiences, not necessarily related to yours.

Interesting topic, for past and present.

Past:
I was working in a Corporate Marketing department here in Seattle. The cleaning crew would come by in the evenings and several times, while working late, I would see them, make light conversation while they came into my cube and then continue working. That was until the stench arrived 5 seconds later. Happened a couple of times, a co-worker finally called facilities to ask them to address the situation. The situation was "corrected" with cologne. Well, let's say that didn't last, neither did he. Hope someone was kind enough to speak with him after like Tugger experienced.

Present:
I started with a new company in their Corporate Marketing department. One day, a month in to my new job, I heard "clip", "clip", "clip" and realized what it was. Someone across from me was clipping his fingernails at his desk. I couldn't believe it. Seriously? I called his name, he looked at me and I mouthed "bathroom". He mouthed back "really?? , OK".

I now have the pleasure of walking to work, about a mile down hill in the morning, but a mile back up hill in the evening. I sweat both ways. It hasn't gotten that bad, but since summer has arrived, I feel a little "ripe" upon arriving at work (I shower everyday, maybe twice depending on the hot weather). I've decided to keep a bag at work to take a shower (showers available) with an extra polo and t-shirt or two. Yes, I wear a t-shirt under my polo, it helps catch the sweat before it hits your polo.

Quoting MD11Engineer (Reply 27):So, when he still didn´t wash after having been toldso by the other soldiers repeatetively, one evening a bunch of them grabbed him and dragged him to the shower room. There they stripped him and scrubbed him down, using the hard bristle brushes used for scrubbing the floor,

My uncle used to tell me stories like this when I was a kid. He was in the Navy during WWII. What you described was exactly the way they dealt with sailors who were smelly and dirty. It usually solved the problem. So it seems the tradition continues.

When I was in college and working security part time I remember seeing in the Employee Handbook that it was a required part of your job to take a shower every day. It is kind of sad that not only do you have to tell people to do that but have to spell it out in writing and make them sign they abide by work rules in the handbook to enforce it. This from a company that made its name in the 19th century guarding the President of the United States. How the mighty have fallen.

Quoting type-rated (Reply 30):My uncle used to tell me stories like this when I was a kid. He was in the Navy during WWII. What you described was exactly the way they dealt with sailors who were smelly and dirty. It usually solved the problem. So it seems the tradition continues.

Drenching their nasty laundry in that potent "Pine Oil" cleaner (uncut) is another effective way to address it!

Quoting sunshine79 (Reply 17):One poor woman who sits right next to him brought in an air freshener this morning and I nearly ended up in hospital after nearly suffering an anaphylactic shock. Luckily, the freshener was removed sharply and I recovered and the guy rang in sick today.

So you're allergic to some kind of chemical ? I ask because since a few years I get a mild reaction when I go into the washing powders alley in supermarkets, and some shower gels itch when I use them.

New Technology is the name we give to stuff that doesn't work yet. Douglas Adams

Unfortunately when working in an office one of the factors you sometimes have to get used to are people who are not as clean or don't wear the same products you do. At the moment there are one or two people who have noticeable body odour at times. Both of these people are from non-Western backgrounds and one consumes pungently spiced foods daily. The combination of the smell from being around the food and it being sweated out of the pores can be unpleasant. Surprisingly this person is very neatly dressed/groomed however I do not think they wear deodorants or mainstream cologne (due to alcohol content?). The other person is a female who either may have BO herself or I may be smelling it from guy #1 who sits near her. I can handle body odour in small doses on a guy but when a girl smells of it I am utterly disgusted. I have spoken to my supervisor about #1 and it has not materialized as they do not notice the odour. Ironically this person hired both people so I guess they have very poor sense of smell. Thankfully I don't have to be in their proximity long enough so it normally doesn't bother me.

If it is truly an issue of someone being visibly dirty (greasy/dirty/extremely odourous) than you should try to speak to other co-workers and raise the issue with management.